Plant pot



Sept. 16, 1930. w. SALISBURY PLANT POT Filed Feb. 23. 1927 5 N6 n a m6 m.m m V ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 16, 1930 PATENT DFFICE WILLIAM SALISBURY, OF DETROIT,MICHIGAN PLANT ror Application filed February 23, 1927. SerialNo.170,127.

My-invention relates to a new useful improvement'in a plant pot such asis customarily 'used for individual growing plants in green houses,homes, etc. When these 'pots 5 are used, it has been found that theearth contained within the pot and in which the plant is growing,becomes packed, particularly at the'base, so that a free growing of theroots is considerably checked, and often- .1 times prevented, resultingin the death of the plant The earth enclosed withthe pot is sealed fromthe air except at the exposed surface at the open end of the pot, and onaccount of the depth of the pot it has been found that this area exposedto the air is not sufficient to permit'the proper growth and cultivationof the plants, as the access of the air to the roots isdesirable, and isquite important in retainingthe earth in that. loose condition about theroots which is so desirable to, and beneficial for, rapid and unstintedgrowth. t

It is an object of the present invention,

therefore,.to provide a pot in which the packmg of the earthat the lowerportion may be prevented and in which a maximum amount of air may bedelivered to roots, so that the necessary aeration thereof may beeffected,

and a full and healthy growth ofv the plant 3 brought about. i

It is another object of the invention to provide a plant pot in whichthe aeration of the roots may take place to the proper degree, and atthe same time, the earth, while aerated in this manner, may be providedat all times with the proper moisture.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed. 7

As shown in the drawings, the invention comprises a receptacle or plantpot of conventional circular cup-shaped form having upwardly outwardlytapered imperforate side wall 7. The base comprises a flat minor portionextending about the outer edge thereof at a right angle to the axis ofthe pot. A centrally inwardly dished portion or cone 8 is provided inthe base, the dished portion, which may be of various heightsterminating in open top 9. This major base portion 8 provides aninterior bottom having a continuous descent from the open top 9 to thejunction of the side wall and bottom, and is normally provided withperforations 10, the number of these perforations varying depending uponthe amount of aeration of the roots desired, this being determined to agreat extent by thenature of the plant with which the pot is to be used.The perforations 10,

in short cones, may be eliminated entirely.

The minor base portion is provided with a peripheral series of thickenedportions, 11 thereabout which not only serve as reinforcements for thebase but as legs or supporting members projecting outwardly from theedge of the bottom. The bottom between each pair of these legs is anormal thickness region having a vertical opening 12 formed thereinwhich extends into the interior of the pot proper'terminating at thejunction of the base and side wall. These openings provide ventilationas well as drainage from the extremelow point of the pot interiorthereby avoiding anywet spots therein. The major base portion being acontinuous descent from the high point thereof cooperates in obtainingthis result.

When the plant is to be planted in the pot, the earth is placed in thepot in the usual. manner, with the plant supported therein, this earthengaging the wall 9 of the inwardly projecting cone shaped bottom. Afterthe earth has been properly packed inthe pot, practically none of theearth will pass" through the opening 9. The roots ofthe plant, aftergrowing has progressed to a certain degree, will be extended around theinwardly projected cone shaped bottom, and the openings 10, as well asthe opening 9,

" 50 sorbed' by the earth in the pot. t I A While I have illustrated anddescribed the will permit proper aeration of these roots, bringing aboutthe desired effect.

. These potsare generally placed in a saucer for the purpose of catchingsuch surplus water as may drip therefrom, and the openings 12 permitthis surplus water toseep into the earth, thusassuring properwatering'of the roots around the aerated portion;

1 am aware that there have been devices for supporting the earth inelevated relation to the bottom of the pot, and that there have I beeninwardly projecting cone shaped bases,

of, wateringdevices for plant'pots, but the present inventionhasparticularly, as its ob- 15 .ject, the aerating of the roots by meansof the""inwardly;; cone shaped projection as well as retaining the'earth in a "loose and Y prop'erly moistenedcondition, and thisrespectfIgbelieve that the invention is novel. giy'alhe'formation of theinwardly projecting cone shaped bottom as an integral part of thepot isone which is important in the-manufacture of these devices as it permitsthese i one 'piece' earthenwarepots tob-e cast to form fin a single'operation for an economicalman -ufacture of the pots, and at the {sametime,

' ing's 12 are formed inthe single operation.

'This adds strength to the base due to the integral construction. I Theopenings 12, being parallel-to'the axis of the pot, can be formed bypins carried by the mold, for the pins maybe Withdrawn without tearingthe pot, g V v o The openings 9, 10 3116.12 will as provide V for aquickdrainage of any surplus water 7 which may be deposited on the earthcon "tained in the pot, so that a rotting of the roots may beprevented,and the presence '45 of excess moisture surroundingthesame obviatedjFurthermore, the presence of the openings, in addition to permitting theaerae the junction of'said base and side-wall;v

foregoing specificatona WILLIAM SALISBURY.

tion of the wall and bas-e and said base having a peripheral seriesofothickened regions between said openings.

2. A one-piece earthenware plant pot cast-,

to-form comprisingabase and an impel-forate side wall upwardly extendingthere from, saidbase being providedwith a peripheral series ofreinforcing thickened regions about the outer edge thereof, a series ofvertical, openings through'said base between-said reinforcing regionsextending] from the low point of the pot interior and acentrallyinwardly dished portion insaid base having ventilating meanstherethrough;

3. A one-piece earthenware plant pot castto-"form comprising a base andan imperforate side wall upwardly extendingmthere- I from, said basebeing provided with thickened regions forming an annular series of ribsabout the periphery thereof a as .relnforcements therefor whileproviding normal thickness regions therebetween, "a vertical openingthrough one of said normal-thick ness regions between the ribs extendingfrom 1 4. A one-piece earthenware plantpot castto-form comprisinga.circulartapered"cup it shaped receptacle having an imperforate sidewall, a'base'on said receptacle at right angles to the axis of said pothaving a fiat minor portion extending about the outer GdgGIOfsaid base,a centraIIyJinWardIy "dished major Y portion therefrom providing an'interiorbott'om having a continuous .de-

scent from the central portionthereof to the minor base portion beingprovided with a vseries 'of thickened portions thereaboutvand havingopenings "parallel. to thefa'xis of said pot, extending fromthe'junction offsaid side wall and base downwardly through 'saidbot tombetweenthe thickened base portionsf Intestimony whereof I ,have signedthe -tion 'ofthe roots, will permita ready evaporation of suchexcessmoisture as maybe ab- -preferred form of construction, I do notwish to limit myself to the precise details of strucs, l

"'tureshown, butdesire to avail myself of such 'va'r1'at1ons andmodifications as come within I the scope of the appended claimsi QHaving thus described my invention, what it i i I I claim as'new anddesire to secure byLetterslPatent is: g Y a V I g":1 .*A-'one-'pieceearthenware plaintpotcast- "to-form-provided with a base, an imperforatesidewall extending upwardly'andoutwardl'y from saidbase, a series ofvertical 7 openings'" extending I downwardly through said-base from thepot interior at the juncion junction of said bottom and side wall, said

